We Were There!

We attended the Portland, Or. City Council meeting on 1/23/2013 and the five shi-s have not seen the light, they remain in the darkness. I was joined by a wonderful and gentle monk from Vietnam; that was amazing. Most of you know that I am not a holy or gentle type of guy, so sitting next to this man was a joy for me. The rest of this report will not be so good.

The first thing that happened was my 3 minute presentation to the council about the cops leaving their guns outside of the Council Chambers. My main point was to suggest we have a "Gun Free Zone" during our arguments with the politicians sitting on their asses up there at the podium. Did you ever wonder why politicians have the need to say nice things about other politicians; drives me nuts. I like it when they say good things about their staff, but when the mayor says good things about the fish-man, makes me want to vomit! Even in Congress you will hear from time to time, "My good friend from ---------." This circle jerk give me gas pains!

The second ordinance that I was pissed at was #67 and that had to do with spending $269, 000 more of our tax money on Transition Project. Fish-man needed an emergency action to get more money to this contractor to assist single women getting off the streets during this cold and dangerous weather, a good thing? Yes it is, but I was struck by the number of people this extra money was being used for, about 70 single women. Right to Dream Too also makes room for about 70 people, but the city through their actions of fines and any other shit thing they can come up with want to close down R2D2. That is what caused me to pull the item and then ask the question, "Why spend more money on helping the house-less with one hand then try to throw out 70 human beings on the streets with the other." I did not get any answer from any of the five shi-s, the fish-man actually said it had no connection to the new expenditure of our money. What they did was with one hand help and do a good thing and the other slap the efforts of R2D2. Unbelievable!

We need to pack this chamber every week, if you can will you join Individuals For Justice and hold these people to some rational standard of humanity? We need you to attend and challenge what they are doing week after week. If you can't go to the meetings would you send the 5 shi-s an email after watching the video of the meeting. It is important that we have a presence and tell them what we think should happen. Many of you know that I believe a nervous politician is a good politician. We need to do more.

Just think of what the last council did and what this new council is continuing:

1. Rejoined the Joint Terrorist Task Force, even though most of us asked them not to join forces with the FBI.

2. Sit-Lie Lie bullshit!

3. Want to add poison to our water, cover the reservoirs and close Right to Dream Too.

4. Camping Ban

4. In coordination with the FBI raided Occupy Camps!

5. Spent money on buildings without asking any homeless/houseless people what they really need.

6. Make promises and then break them almost immediately.

7. Arrest peacemakers but promote rogue cops.

8. Make up their minds before the first public testimony is given.

9. If you watch closely, you will see half the time one or more members don't have a clue what staff is talking about.

10. Spend money on overtime like there is no shortage of funds.

I could go on and on but you should get the picture by now, they just laugh at us.

The fish-man is up for re-election in 2 years, we should find a candidate that will kick his ass. We should make it very clear that if the council does not represent us, we will run them out of office. Do not listen to what they say, watch what they do and respond. I would love to see all of us engaged, I know the meetings are boring but being a citizen means participation and letting them know that there are consequences for their actions---now they get a free ride. Call to action for all of you, post this on your pages, send it out to all and let us start to change this gang of hypocrites! I will attend and report on most meetings, but my health continues to give me fits and from time to time I will be in bed watching them on TV and yelling. It would be good to have more people engaged every week. I want to see the Overpass Light Brigade illuminate the night sky with a message that says something like, "The 5 shi-s are at it again."